Savannah Technical College recognized its 2015 instructor of the year Monday and named two students to awards that will have them represent the college at statewide events.
Sarah Hunt was named the 2015 Instructor of the Year and is the college’s Rick Perkins Award winner. The Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction honors outstanding faculty members at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions.
“Sarah has demonstrated teaching excellence through her diverse instructional approaches,” said Savannah Tech President Kathy Love. “She engages her students by promoting a style of teaching which encourages students to connect classroom and real-world practices.”
Hunt has been department chair of humanities and fine arts at Savannah Tech since 2013 and began teaching in the general studies department as an English instructor in 2007.
Also Monday, Ruth Ann Dutton, a paralegal studies student, was selected as the 2015 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner for Savannah Tech.
Dutton will represent Savannah Tech at regional and statewide events to select a student to serve as the ambassador for technical education across the state. The competitive process involves academic success,
community engagement and public speaking. Winners are nominated by their instructors and selected after interviews with a panel of business and community leaders.
“What I respect most about Ruth Ann is her dedication to family and her commitment to the community,” said Debra Geiger, of the Paralegal Studies Department. “Her technical college experience has encouraged her growth in many ways, including academically, personally and professionally.”
Dutton expects to graduate this year after completing a summer internship with the Georgia Legal Services Program office, where she has volunteered for the past year.
In a separate award, Brandon Matias has been chosen to represent Savannah Tech at the Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) Leadership Institute March 16-18 in Atlanta.
Matias is enrolled in Savannah Tech’s Accelerating Opportunity program, where he takes adult education classes for his general education development (GED) diploma in conjunction with welding classes. When he earns his GED and completes his welding training, Matias plans to become a welder/fabricator.
“Brandon is always willing to help, not only his peers, but his instructors as well,” said Brent Stubbs, dean of adult education. “He is a dependable, hardworking young man that has the potential to become a master welder, educator or anything else he puts his mind to.”
The EAGLE Leadership Institute recognizes and honors students who have demonstrated superior achievement in adult education classes.